Adamant
Adamant is an extremely strong, durable metal that both flourishes and diminishes magical abilities. Adamant is found within high mountains, such as the Witrath Hills and the Asbour Mountains. As an ore, it resembles silver, resulting in it being often mistaken for the currency. However, when refined it glows a brilliant white from light reflecting off its surface. Adamant metal is stronger than steel and is used mostly for armor and weapons. When using adamant armor and weapons, the metal enhances any magical powers if they are present within the wielder. Conversely, when in combat, the wielder of the metal can negate the magical abilities of others who attack them. For this reason, adamant is a highly sought-after metal by extremely powerful people.
Properties
Material Characteristics
As a raw ore, adamant can get easily confused with other precious metals like platinum or silver. However, when melted and refined, the metal becomes highly reflective of light and even slightly glows in the dark, although not by much. It is colored greyish-white and is ever so slightly warm to the touch. If held by a person or creature with magical abilities, their magic will be enhanced with power, even in its raw form. If a person with magic is wearing armor or wielding a weapon made of adamant, they can even deflect another magic users abilities, forcing the combatant to fight with more traditional methods. This only works proportional to the surface area of the wielder's adamant, meaning if an individual only has an adamant sword, they can only deflect an area of their body equal to the surface area of the sword.
Geology & Geography
Adamant is most commonly found in high mountain ranges, but even then, it is still a very rare resource. Veins of adamant are the size of large boulders and are tough to break out. The Asbour, Witrath, Bevven, and Hartin mountains are filled with mines that occasionally pull out adamant. Mount. Zeima in the Dylarious Kingdom has hundreds of mines where giants carve out great veins of adamant from the rock, making the mountain the most abundant source of adamant metal in the world.
History & Usage
History
It is unknown exactly when or where adamant was first discovered but the giants were the first to use it in cultural rituals. In the early days of giant civilization, adamant was used solely for their kings and warlords. The crowns, armor, and weapons of giant kings and lords were all foraged from or had adamant pieces inserted into them. Adamant was eventually discovered by elves and men, who used it for similar practices. These ancient traditions are still practiced to this day.
Adamant became connected to symbols of divinity as the Godborn, such as Avalyn Sol or Alred Blackflame, were given adamant weapons and armor as gifts to be used in combat. These artifacts are blessed with leftover magic still imbued from their Godborn wielders long after they have gone. Many of these legendary weapons, however, remain either lost or buried within tombs by Klesagarian churches intending to keep them safe.
In the modern era, adamant is mostly used for more practical purposes rather than religious or cosmetic ones. Adamant is used to create the armor and weapons for the knights of various kingdoms, divine guards to religious institutions, or the Dragon Knights of Drandallas. Adamant, however, has a serious contender in kyrite. Kyrite acts similarly to adamant in enhancing and deflecting magic but is specifically good at battling against elemental and demonic magics and the Scourge. Kyrite is starting to outgrow adamant in many economies, especially as further dragon and demonic attacks occur per year.
Everyday use
Adamant is mostly used in armor and weapons for knights and guards of highly wealthy and powerful individuals. Armor and weapons are forged to their utmost perfection by blacksmiths and crafted to be perfectly in line with their wielder's fighting style. However, adamant is not only used for fighting but also for currency. Adamant coins are some of the most valuable objects a person can collect, as a single sword of adamant can be worth thousands of golden dragon coins--the main currency of the Shalorenth Empire--and set almost anyone up for life if they sell to the correct person.
Cultural Significance and Usage
Adamant is culturally associated with wealth, beauty, royalty, and religious significance. Royal kings, queens, lords, and dukes often wear adamant as jewelry. Their rings and necklaces would have small refined nuggets of adamant surrounded by gold, silver, or even a small ring of diamonds. In klesagarian faiths, adamant is seen as a holy metal with connections to the divine. Church leaders will commission sculptures to have adamant eyes or wear crowns made with adamant pieces. In some cities, entire statues of the Godborn are constructed almost completely out of adamant.
Adamant is also seen as a symbol of physical and magical power. Those who have the most adamant are most often mighty warriors, knights, military generals, and members of the Dragon Knights of Drandallas or the Vaeluna Knights. They use it most often in their swords, battle axes, magic staffs, and armor. In armies, adamant is only given to those who have proven themselves to be legendary in militaristic capabilities, most usually being experienced generals and commanders, and is considered among the most prestigious of military rewards.
Distribution
Law & Regulation
Several different countries, including the Commourid Kingdom, the Shalorenth Empire, and the Felvon'Tori Kingdom, have strict laws in place regarding adamant usage and distribution. If an individual collects coins made of adamant, no law is broken and they may trade with it as they please. Punishment may be dealt if that same person has traded illegally or has done some kind of damage to the greater economy. It is illegal if a person has adamant weapons or armor but no magical abilities. Their adamant will be confiscated by whatever authority has come for them and they will be publicly hanged or exiled for the crime of hoarding magic valuables from authority and being a potential threat to civilian life.
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